COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA (Civil Aviation Regulations 1998), PART 39 - 105 CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY
SCHEDULE OF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE
For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below revokes Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/A320/48 and issues the following AD under subregulation 39.1 (1) of CAR 1998. The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.
Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 Series Aeroplanes
AD/A320/48
Amdt 1
Wing Rear Spar between Ribs 1and 2 13/2002
Applicability: Model A320-111, -211, and 231 aircraft, Manufacturing Serial Number (MSN) 002 through 071, except for aircraft with Airbus Modification No. 21233 incorporated in production or Airbus Service Bulletin A320-57-1021 incorporated in-service.
Requirement: Inspect in accordance with the requirements of DGAC AD 2002-531(B).
Note: Airbus Service Bulletins A320-57-1020 original issue, A320-57-1020 Revision 1, A320-57-1020 Revision 2, and A320-57-1021 refer.
Compliance: As specified in the Requirement document, with a revised effective date of 26 December 2002.
This Amendment becomes effective on 26 December 2002.
Background: Full-scale fatigue tests revealed cracking in the wing rear spar between ribs 1 and 2.
Amendment 1 is issued in response to a new DGAC AD which introduces revised inspection threshold and intervals, as a result of a review of A320 in-service aircraft fleet mission parameters and those originally considered.
The original issue of this Airworthiness Directive became effective on 27 April 1995.
David Alan Villiers
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority 15 November 2002
The above AD is notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 4 December 2002.
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Overview
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, which were enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, serve as the foundational framework for ensuring aviation safety in Australia. This legislation was designed to address the need for a comprehensive regulatory structure that governs the safety aspects of civil aviation, including the operation of aircraft and the maintenance of airworthiness standards. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 aim to fill the gap by providing detailed and enforceable rules that protect the public and ensure the safe, efficient, and orderly development of civil aviation. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) acts as the delegate of the Commonwealth and issues Airworthiness Directives under the authority granted by the Regulations to manage and mitigate risks to aviation safety. The policy objective of these directives is to ensure that any unsafe conditions identified in aircraft are promptly addressed through specified actions to maintain the highest standards of airworthiness.
Scope and Application
The Airworthiness Directive issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 (CAR 1998) pertains specifically to Airbus Industrie A320, A319, and A321 Series Aeroplanes, with particular reference to the model numbers A320-111, -211, and 231 and their respective Manufacturing Serial Numbers (MSN) 002 through 071. This directive does not apply to aircraft that have incorporated Airbus Modification No. 21233 in production or Airbus Service Bulletin A320-57-1021 in-service. The directive mandates inspections in accordance with DGAC AD 2002-531(B) and sets forth a revised compliance date of 26 December 2002. The directive aims to address the identified unsafe condition of cracking in the wing rear spar between ribs 1 and 2, as revealed through full-scale fatigue tests. The directive is effective within the Commonwealth of Australia, aligning with the jurisdiction of CASA and the regulatory framework established by CAR 1998. This legislative instrument operates to ensure the continued airworthiness and safety of the specified aircraft models within the national airspace.
Key Provisions
The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 105, governs the issuance of Airworthiness Directives (AD) (subregulation 39.1 (1)). In the present case, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has revoked an existing AD (AD/A320/48) and issued a new one (AD/A320/48 Amendment 1) concerning the Airbus Industrie A319, A320, and A321 Series aeroplanes. This AD applies to A320-111, -211, and 231 aircraft with Manufacturing Serial Numbers (MSN) 002 through 071, except for those with Airbus Modification No. 21233 incorporated in production or Airbus Service Bulletin A320-57-1021 incorporated in-service (section 1).
The AD requires an inspection of the wing rear spar between ribs 1 and 2 in accordance with the requirements of DGAC AD 2002-531(B) (section 2). The compliance section of the AD mandates that this inspection must be carried out with a revised effective date of 26 December 2002, as specified in the requirement document (section 3). This amendment becomes effective on the same date, as stated in the AD (section 4). The background section explains that the AD was issued in response to full-scale fatigue tests revealing cracking in the wing rear spar between ribs 1 and 2, and the new AD introduces revised inspection thresholds and intervals based on a review of A320 in-service aircraft fleet mission parameters (section 5).
The AD imposes obligations on the parties or entities it governs, namely the aircraft operators and maintenance organisations. They must ensure that the inspection of the wing rear spar between ribs 1 and 2 is carried out in accordance with the requirements of DGAC AD 2002-531(B) and within the specified compliance timeframe of 26 December 2002. Failure to comply with the AD may result in the aircraft being deemed unairworthy, leading to potential grounding and subsequent financial and operational consequences for the operators and maintenance organisations.
In terms of offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach, the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998 do not explicitly state any specific penalties for non-compliance with ADs. However, non-compliance with ADs may lead to enforcement actions by CASA, such as fines, suspension or revocation of air operator certificates, and other regulatory measures. Furthermore, failure to comply with ADs may result in civil liabilities for damages or injuries caused by the non-compliance, as well as criminal charges in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct.